Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake

See all properties

Entire home

Driveway is about 1/10th of a mile long, setting the house well back from road.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 7213.7 sq m

Popular amenities

Dryer
Washer
Parking available
Fireplace
Barbecue grill
Kitchen

Explore the area

Ithaca, NY

Cornell University
‪7 min drive‬
Ithaca Falls Natural Area
‪8 min drive‬
Ithaca Commons
‪9 min drive‬
Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional)
‪6 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Office 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 3

Soap · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Garden

Dining area

About this property

Our warm, welcoming, home is situated on 5.6 acres, set back from the road, providing privacy and seclusion in a beautiful natural setting just a mile from shopping and restaurants, 1.5 miles from the airport, 10 minutes from Cornell & downtown Ithaca, and 15 minutes from Ithaca College.

Three bedrooms upstairs with high-quality queen mattresses, Smart TVs in two. Two full bathrooms upstairs (one en suite) plus half-bath on the main level. Main level has two large, light-filled family living spaces, one with a large Smart TV & gas fireplace, as well as an office that includes a twin daybed that can pull out to queen/king if needed. Three-zoned AC throughout.

Large deck, gas grill, and fenced backyard for corn hole, frisbee, watching the deer graze, or catching a shooting star before bed. Linens/towels/pillows, paper products, fully outfitted kitchen including condiments/spices for cooking. Plenty of parking for multiple vehicles. High-speed wireless internet. This is a great home base for visits to Cornell University or Ithaca College, local festivals, Cayuga Lake, and Finger Lakes wine/cider/craft beer trails.

Property manager

Laurie Koehler

Premier Host

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Have a question?

Beta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Ask a question

Similar properties

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Ithaca

Ithaca is home to this holiday home. Shoppers can check out Ithaca Commons, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Cayuga Lake and Buttermilk Falls State Park. Cornell Botanic Gardens and Sciencenter are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

View more Holiday homes in Ithaca

Ithaca, NY

What's nearby

Shops at Ithaca Mall - 3 min drive - 2.3 km
Cornell University - 7 min drive - 5.5 km
Ithaca Falls Natural Area - 8 min drive - 7.5 km
Ithaca Commons - 9 min drive - 9.1 km
Ithaca College - 11 min drive - 10.6 km

Getting around

Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional) - 6 min drive

Restaurants

‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
‪Temple of Zeus - ‬9 min drive
‪Ithaca Coffee Company - ‬4 min drive
‪Salt Point Brewing Co. - ‬6 min drive
‪Ithaca Bakery - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake located?

Situated in Ithaca, this holiday home is within 2 miles (3 km) of Shops at Ithaca Mall, Regal Ithaca Mall and Cayuga Lake. Triphammer Marketplace and Corners Gallery are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

diana g.

15 Oct 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect fit

I highly recommend this property if you’re traveling to Ithaca. Communication with host was great, very clean, location was great for many activities. It was the perfect fit for our family weekend getaway.

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Erin M.

7 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely Stay

This was a wonderful place to stay! Nice, clean, spacious, and very welcoming hosts. Has everything you need and ideally located.

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pete B.

1 Dec 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spotless, spacious, welcoming, and convenient

This was home base for a Thanksgiving with family. The house is absolutely spotless, with comfortable modern rooms and lots of space to spread out. The house is set back from the road with a secluded backyard with a deck and a fenced in area, you’d never know the grocery store and mall are 5 minutes away, and downtown Ithaca is a short drive. The kitchen was well stocked, and communication with Laurie the owner was excellent.

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael W.

7 Oct 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home away from home

Colleague and I attended a conference at Cornell. This home was a perfect stay. Laurie communicated before, during and right before our leave. The home was completely stocked with everything and more to make our stay an easy and comfortable one. Just 10-12 minutes away from Cornell. Would give higher than 5 stars if possible!

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Graham C.

29 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Finger Lakes vacation home

We loved our stay in this lovely, tastefully, handsomely appointed house. Laurie was an attentive hostess who responded quickly and professionally in all our dealings. Instructions were thorough and there were very nice, thoughtful touches on our arrival. This rental ranks in the very top tier of our VRBO rentals.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Vikram A.

28 May 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Better than expected

Loved this home. It was perfect for our family as we needed a home base for my Cornell masters graduation. Quick drive to anywhere in Ithaca. And it was a nice place to relax in between events. It was larger than I expected which is always a good thing. Will stay here again the next time we’re in Ithaca

Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie S.

16 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cornell Reunion

Perfect house for our stay for Cornell Reunion with the family.

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah L.

30 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Really nice house

This house was even better than we expected. Good location where the house was private but still close to a lot of places. It was really clean, the beds were comfortable and they had k cups ready for us. I will absolutely stay in this house next time we’re in Ithaca!

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sabrina M.

22 May 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

comfortable oasis easy drive to everything

The home is situated in a quiet, private country plot only 10 minutes drive from Ithaca city center, 5 minutes to the park at Cayuga Lake, and easy drives to various state Parks. We slept so well, felt truly relaxed and always happy to be HOME when we returned to the house. We stayed a week and could not have been happier with the fully stocked kitchen, large bedrooms, tasteful,warm decor and little extras like milk in the fridge and snacks for our arrival. We had excellent communication with the owners. We would stay here again in a heartbeat.

Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rachelle P.

15 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Property

Had a fantastic time at this property with my family while moving my daughter into Cornell. Very clean and plenty of space for all of us to spread out. Laurie was fantastic with communication throughout the entire process. Will absolutely stay here again!

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrew L.

2 Apr 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable, Well Appointed, Roomy

Our stay at the Welcoming Retreat was awesome! The location was perfect for us, and we enjoyed the quiet and rural setting, though close to shopping and amenities. The living spaces and bedrooms were comfortable and clean. Our family felt very at home. The kitchen is well appointed, and we appreciated the staples available for our use. And the welcome snacks were enjoyed! Overall, this is a 10 out of 10 listing!

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Allison P.

7 Nov 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great home base for Ithaca Family weekend!

We had another amazing stay while visiting our son for Ithaca family weekend. The house was so cozy and immaculate! We had enough space to spread out but we were able to all come together for dinner and a movie. It’s the prefect location! We will be back again! Laurie is the best host!

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tanya V.

19 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolute gem in perfect location!

Beautiful home with a wonderful backyard, ideal location for all things Ithaca, Cornell and the Finger Lakes. The property is spacious, so comfortable and we were a short drive to everything we wanted to take in. The hosts were incredibly helpful with recommendations and we were able to take in so much, even during a short stay. We will be back!

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Allison P.

22 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

College drop off trip

We loved everything about the Cherry Rd house!! It was so cozy and cute. It was so thoughtfully decorated and had everything we needed. We loved the privacy and the location. We were able to get everywhere we needed to be quickly. We hope to stay there again one day! We love Ithaca ❤️

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katherine R.

31 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great find!

We felt at home instantly at Laurie’s clean, spacious house. Well appointed with bright open floor plan. Bedding, linens and bathrooms were perfect. Easy access to parks, lake and colleges. Will definitely stay again!

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Meghana M.

8 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful get away with friends

Laurie’s place was the perfect spot for our long weekend trip out of the city. It was very close to Ithaca and an easy drive to hikes and wineries near by. The house was spacious, clean, and accommodated our group perfectly. The hosts were very responsive to our needs both before and during the stay. Thank you, Laurie!

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary K., Harrisburg, Pa.

16 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent property

My sisters and I had a wonderful stay at this very nice home. The house was so tastefully decorated, and we had everything we needed. The host was so quick in responding and answering any questions we had. We found plenty of things to do nearby, although we could have done more fun things if it had not have been a rainy day.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kari S.

13 Nov 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

I'll never stay anywhere else!

Laurie's property in Ithaca was perfect for our family's early Thanksgiving! It truly felt like a "home away from home" and not once did I need a thing while we were hosting a big family dinner. This house is beautiful, spotless and clean, and the setting is like an oasis in the country - yet you are only minutes from everything Ithaca has to offer. I can't imagine staying anywhere else when I'm home for a visit. Thank you Laurie for such wonderful care and attention to detail.

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sharon F.

6 May 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Property - everything we needed!

This property in Ithaca was perfect for our stay. It was well appointed and had everything we needed and more. When we realized that we needed to open up the kitchen table for more room, Laurie immediately let us know where the table leaves were and where we could find additional chairs. Her response to this request and all other requests were prompt and helpful. The kitchen was filled with all of the essentials which we really appreciated. All of the livings spaces, bedrooms and bathrooms were comfortable and clean. The location was very convenient - close to everything in Ithaca we wanted to explore. We will DEFINITELY stay here again!

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nicole M.

2 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Experience & Stay!

Our stay and experience at this property was fabulous from start to finish! Laurie, the homeowner, was very communicative, professional, thoughtful, kind, helpful with every detail. The home felt larger and more roomy that the photos. Every amenity and supply needed was available, which was nice and alleviated the need to go out and buy much aside from groceries. It was so peaceful every morning, having coffee, sitting on the back deck, and watching all the wildlife around us. It was so relaxing and felt like we were home. The home is in a fantastic location, only minutes from the grocery store, BJ's, Target, and restaurants. We will absolutely keep this property as our #1 choice the next time we're in the area! Thank you for opening your home to our family!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

kristi d.

5 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect

Laurie was a gracious host, and truly cares about the comfort of her guests. The house was perfect in every way possible. Spotlessly clean with very comfortable furniture and beds, and beautiful decor. Just a top notch place, very cozy. Excellent location, quiet but close to everything you would like to do in the area. There is a reason for all the five star reviews, you will enjoy your stay here. Thanks Laurie!

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Georgeana M.

27 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home in a beautiful location.

We rented the home for a Mother-Daughter vacation. It was a perfect fit. The house was beautiful and well appointed. It had everything we needed. It even had some toys for the little ones. Laurie was quick to respond and answered all of our questions. Seeing the bunnies and ground hogs in the back yard was an added bonus!!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lyuba

2 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication

We spent the weekend in Ithaca for Cornell graduation and the entire weekend was off to an amazing start because Laurie's exceptional welcome. The house is absolutely gorgeous!! Rooms are spacious, comfy, with all the amentities for you to feel at home. I can't recommend this property high enough. Laurie - thank you so much for your amazing hospitality!!

10/10 Excellent

Shawn F.

20 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Staying here was a treat...

A beautiful home. Warm and inviting. The kitchen is great. Laundry, too. The views around the house are amazing. So much space. Thinking about having a group of friends join me next time. Loved the openness of the interior and how livable this place was. I'll be back to stay here again.

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cathy P.

9 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Home away from home.

Beautiful home. great attention to detail. Kitchen was well stocked with spices, coffee, teas, and cooking essentials. Even frig had basic stock (ketchup, butter etc). Plenty of towels, pillows etc in bedrooms. Lovely deck to enjoy the outdoors. Plenty of privacy . Enjoyed doing a puzzle and flipping through the many cook books.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

About the host

Hosted by Laurie Koehler

Though originally from the D.C. area, I'm a super fan of Ithaca and the Finger Lakes, having chosen to live here on two separate occasions as an adult who works in higher education. We love the combination of a beautiful natural environment which still takes my breath away every day, with a small, manageable city centered on education with an incredible arts scene, great food, and a lack of pretension. While known for being a wine-lovers paradise, I'm more knowledgeable about the outstanding craft beer scene in the area and am happy to provide recommendations if you are interested. Of course, I also have plenty of other recommendations on ways to spend your time here, what not to miss, the importance of trying all of the local ice cream, where to go for a short run, and more!

Why they chose this property

I'm so grateful to have found this house and the 5.6 acres on which it is situated! I feel like we live in the middle of a bird sanctuary/nature preserve and that when I'm at the house, the spaces inside and outside allow me to breathe in a way that the stress of the world sometimes can impede. As only the second owners of the home, I have such an appreciation for the original owners' thought processes in building the place - maximizing light, passive solar, and the views. It's private without being isolated - you can watch the deer in the front field one minute and then hop in the car and be at Ithaca Coffee Company or Salt Point Brewing in five minutes or Downtown or at the Farmer's Market in ten. Plus it's just really well built with quality materials and craftsmanship. It's a privilege to live here and serve as the stewards and caretakers of this remarkable place.

What makes this property unique

Every night, before heading upstairs to bed, if it's a relatively clear night, I make it a point to step outside - usually onto the back deck, but sometimes onto the front porch - look at the stars, and take some deep breaths. First off, I've never lived anywhere before with so little light pollution, so getting to see the number of stars I do is special (during one of the recent meteor showers, I literally counted 16 unique "shooting star" sightings!). But for me, it's also a chance to be reminded to keep perspective on the challenges of the day. I hope, if you choose to stay here, you'll also be able to find some peace and perspective amidst the busyness of your days.

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests

Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

Hotels

pet-friendly rentals in Normanville

pet-friendly rentals in Southern Highlands

Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake

Photo gallery for Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Office 1

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Spaces

About this property